Quick answer: what changed?

If you live in a covered Washington disaster area or operate a business there, certain federal tax deadlines falling on or after December 9, 2025 and before May 1, 2026 are generally postponed until May 1, 2026. That relief can also apply in some situations where you live outside the covered area but your necessary records or tax preparer are inside it.

Who qualifies for the Washington disaster tax extension?

The IRS notice applies to individuals and businesses in Benton, Chelan, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, King, Kittitas, Lewis, Mason, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom, and Yakima counties. FEMA materials for this event also reference the Samish Indian Nation.

If you are not physically located in one of those areas, relief may still be available when records needed to meet a tax deadline are in the disaster area or your preparer is located there and could not file or pay on your behalf. Review the IRS disaster relief FAQs for taxpayers whose records or tax preparer are in the disaster area for details.

Because our office is in Monroe, Washington, this question can matter for nearby businesses and individuals whose books, payroll records, or tax documents are handled in Snohomish County. If you need hands-on help, start with our local bookkeeping and IRS letter help in Monroe, Washington page.

Which deadlines moved to May 1, 2026?

The IRS relief is broad, but it does not mean every federal filing requirement moved. Here are some of the biggest items covered by the notice:

• Individual income tax returns and payments otherwise due during the postponement window
• Estimated tax payments normally due January 15, 2026 and April 15, 2026
• 2025 IRA contributions and health savings account contributions for eligible taxpayers
• Quarterly payroll and certain excise tax returns normally due January 31, 2026 and April 30, 2026
• Most individual, corporate, estate and trust, partnership, S corporation, tax-exempt, employment, and certain excise returns with an original or extended due date before May 1, 2026

For current official disaster updates beyond this Washington notice, bookmark the IRS tax relief in disaster situations page for current state-by-state updates.

What did not automatically move?

This is where many taxpayers get tripped up. The postponement generally does not apply to many information returns and regular employment or excise tax deposits unless they are specifically covered by IRS guidance. In practical terms, that means you should not assume every W-2, 1099, payroll deposit, or information filing was postponed.

The Washington notice does include one important exception: penalties on payroll and excise tax deposits due on or after December 9, 2025 and before December 29, 2025 will generally be abated if those deposits were made by December 29, 2025.

If your business is sorting through late payroll filings, account cleanup, or missing records, our business bookkeeping and tax preparation services for Monroe, WA small businesses can help you separate what was postponed from what still required action.

What should you do if you already received an IRS notice?

If you received a late-filing or late-payment notice for a due date that falls inside the postponement period, do not ignore it. The IRS says affected taxpayers should call the number on the notice to request penalty abatement.

If you are outside the covered disaster area but qualify because your records or preparer were inside it, the IRS says you should call its disaster relief line at 866-562-5227 to request the relief.

Can you claim a casualty loss for storm damage?

Potentially, yes. Affected taxpayers in a federally declared disaster area may be able to claim eligible disaster-related casualty losses on either the return for the year of the event or the prior-year return. For this Washington event, that means some taxpayers may choose between the 2025 return and the 2024 return, depending on what is more beneficial and whether they meet the rules.

For individuals, the election window generally extends to October 15, 2026. When claiming the loss, review the IRS Publication 547 casualty, disaster, and theft loss rules and the IRS Form 4684 guidance for reporting casualty and theft losses. The IRS notice instructs affected taxpayers to use FEMA declaration number 3629-EM on the return.

If you lost documentation in the storm, keep repair estimates, insurance correspondence, photos, receipts, and bank or credit card statements together now. If your books are behind, these clean-ledger bookkeeping tips before tax filing deadlines pile up can help you get organized before you file or amend a return.

Other disaster-related tax relief to know about

• The IRS says it will waive usual fees for copies of previously filed returns for affected taxpayers when the proper disaster information is included on Forms 4506 or 4506-T.
• Qualified disaster relief payments are generally excluded from gross income.
• Additional relief may be available for some retirement plan and IRA participants affected by the disaster.

You can also monitor the FEMA Washington severe storms and flooding disaster page for broader disaster information connected to this event.

What Washington taxpayers and small businesses should do next

1. Confirm whether your home, business, records, or preparer fall inside the covered disaster area.
2. Make a list of every federal due date that originally fell on or after December 9, 2025 and before May 1, 2026.
3. Separate postponed items from non-postponed items, especially payroll deposits and information returns.
4. Collect storm-related records now, including insurance documents, invoices, payroll files, and proof of payments.
5. Review any IRS notices immediately instead of assuming the issue will resolve itself automatically.

If you want a second set of eyes on deadlines, records, or IRS letters, you can schedule a tax and bookkeeping appointment with our Monroe office. You can also browse more practical updates on our Monroe tax and bookkeeping news articles with practical filing checklists.

FAQ

Does this relief mean every tax deadline moved to May 1, 2026?

No. The Washington notice covers many filing and payment obligations, but not every federal filing requirement. Many information returns and regular employment or excise tax deposits are not automatically postponed unless specifically covered.

What if I live outside the covered counties but my records are in Monroe or with a preparer in the disaster area?

You may still qualify for relief. The IRS specifically addresses situations where the taxpayer is outside the covered area but necessary records or the tax preparer are inside it.

Can I claim uninsured storm losses on my prior-year return?

In some cases, yes. Affected taxpayers may be able to elect to claim eligible disaster-related casualty losses on the 2024 return instead of waiting for the 2025 return, depending on what produces the better result and whether all rules are met.

What if I am not sure whether my books are ready to support a casualty loss claim or delayed filing?

Start by organizing bank records, insurance paperwork, payroll reports, and repair receipts. If you need help, our guide on how to choose a tax professional you can trust in Monroe, WA is a good next read before you hire support.